A/N: I do not own Yu-gi-oh…or 'The Prince' by Machiavelli. I just want to thank all of the reviewers! You guys never cease to amaze me. I'm so happy you all love the story and I hope I can keep you all happy. This started as a favor to a friend and now I find I've actually fallen in love with the story. It's going to get very interesting soon, and you'll learn who the major bad guy is as well…any ideas? I did provide at least one clue earlier on, but it may have been too subtle...oh well, we'll see...

Chapter 16

"If you think for one second that I'm staying in your room…" Serenity started as Roland tried to leave the room.

"This isn't up for discussion Wheeler," Kaiba cut her off, as he motioned for Roland to leave.

"I refuse your offer," she growled, "please take my things to my room Roland."

"I've decided you need extra attention and what better location to receive that than my room?" His blue eyes darkened and narrowed on her. He was attempting to intimidate her.

"I don't need that type of attention Kaiba and I would appreciate my own room." Roland stood on the threshold of the library, neither in nor out, hanging onto Serenity's bags. The poor man didn't know whom to obey.

"I already told you that that type of attention wouldn't be given." He reminded her.

"Then I want my own room." She almost yelled at him. Damn he was aggravating.

He smirked at her, he loved how she never backed down or gave in. Most girls swooned over him, hell, this girl fought him at every turn. Her fiery red hair suited her. When she was younger she was quite shy and innocent, no match for him. Now, she was his match and he would have her, even if it meant he had to change a few things in his life to accommodate her. He didn't want to bend her to his will, or break her spirit he did want to tame her though and he would do it slowly.

"So if I said I would give you that type of attention you would want to be in my room?" He asked, twisting her angry words.

"Yes!" She hissed, and then realized what she was agreeing to. "I mean no, I mean…you know damn well what I mean Kaiba!" She looked at Roland, who was still holding all of her bags. His eyes seemed to be pleading with her to give in.

"You heard her Roland. She said yes." With that Roland left the room, leaving behind a very frazzled Serenity before she could say otherwise.

"You're forcing me to sleep with you?" She folded her arms across her chest and tilted up her chin defiantly.

"I don't recall holding a gun to your head last night." He seemed bored as he sat behind his laptop again.

"If you want me in your bed tonight you better be prepared to hold that gun." She threatened.

"I'd prefer if you held the gun," he snickered as he continued to type. Clearly this was his way of dismissing her. It was obvious that he had made his mind up. Fine, he wanted her in his bed he'd have her there. A beautifully devious plan was starting to unwrap in her mind.

That night Kaiba waited for her at the table. Just where was she? Punctuality was a must in his ordered world. Even though he wasn't in the office or at his mansion he still needed things done in a timely fashion. He drummed his fingers impatiently while she kept him waiting. The cook poked his head in and inquired if it was time to serve. Kaiba slammed away from the table and swept up the stairs, he had been kept waiting long enough. He stormed down the hall to his room and threw open the door. There she was standing by the window looking out over the lake. If she knew he was there she ignored his presence.

She had changed into a light pink sweater with a pair of jeans. Her hair was pulled up in a simple bun, her feet bare. She looked perfect, except there was sadness about her. Had he caused that? Maybe he should let her have her own room. Is that what made her stay up here and away from him? He needed answers, now.

He cleared his throat and she turned to face him. Her eyes searched his face. There was something different about him. Was that uncertainty? Seto Kaiba unsure of something? She took two steps towards him. He took the same towards her. She looked into those blue eyes that made her melt inside and shivered. She bit her bottom lip nervously. He looked amazing as usual. He was now wearing the white trench coat she had confiscated earlier. On her it had been a joke, on him it was mind-blowing.

"You're late for dinner," he announced.

"I'm sorry, the time apparently got away from me." She took another tentative step towards him. He remained in place. He could reach out and grab her at this distance she was sure.

"Are you all right?" He asked with a bit of huskiness in his voice.

"Just thinking about everything that has been happening. I feel like my head is spinning." She attempted to smile at him. He wasn't angry with her, she was grateful for that. She wanted to touch him.

"As long as you don't spit pea soup at me I think we'll be fine." He grinned evilly.

"I don't think our major problem is possession by an evil spirit Kaiba." She snickered at his attempt at humor.

"I'll keep you safe." He offered seriously.

"Yes," she looked up into his eyes. "I know you will, but who'll keep me safe from you?" She took the final step towards him. She tilted up her face to his, keeping her hands at her sides. She could feel his warmth and smell his cologne drift over her senses.

"Do you feel threatened by me? Do I scare you?" He almost whispered.

She bit her lip again and closed her eyes. The truth was her fear was in her own reactions towards him. She never felt like this before and now she felt like she was drowning in him. Those damn blue eyes…

"Look at me Serenity," he commanded. She opened her eyes to stare into the blue depths of his. "If you want your own room I won't stop you."

He was releasing her, she didn't want that and her head slowly shook 'no'. She had planned on being the worst bedmate in his life. She was going to steal the blankets, kick like a mule and snore for all she was worth. Now, standing before him she only wanted his arms around her. This was an intense circumstance, but somewhere inside it felt like fate. If the museum incident hadn't happened would they be together? Yes. It was that simple. She would have kept the appointment to see him and yes, they would be together.

"I want you Kaiba, I want to stay in this room with you." She smiled at him. Maybe she would snore or kick, but she would be staying with him.

His lips brushed hers, softly. He took her hand and led her from the room. He needed dinner to distract him. He was beginning to believe he was the one who was being tamed.

After dinner they sat and quietly read books by the fireplace. She could hardly keep her eyes on the pages before her. Looking up at him was far more entertaining. He was reading 'The Prince' by Machiavelli. She finally pulled the book out of his hands.

"Why are you reading this?" She asked.

"It's a very intricately political book, which analyzes the true nature of people." He replied simply. She looked at it and smiled.

"What reason do you have for reading it? I'm sure it's long outdated by today's standards." She flipped through the pages. She wanted to hear his reasons.

"Actually," he smiled at her. "His works outline how a person in power should live in order to be successful."

She smiled at him. He was trying to explain a complicated work to her in juvenile terms. "He was a philosopher Kaiba. He wrote about how to acquire power and keep it by any means necessary. It's horrible how he believed that good people who have great intentions to do good end up being swayed one way or another into doing things of a greedy and selfish nature. He further thought that people are basically bad. I never did understand how he could think that only two things truly govern a person's life, one being luck and the second being virtue…he was a cynic."

Kaiba sat back and looked at her. "You've read him?"

"I did take a poly-sci course at the college I attended. You have a lot in common with the man don't you?" She sneered at him while she started running her fingers through his soft hair.

"What do you mean Wheeler?" He was a bit annoyed that she would compare him to a dead man.

"Well, he believed that whoever is responsible for another's gaining power ruins himself. Is that why you like to crush the competition?" She moved closer to his neck.

"In the actions of all men and especially of all princes, where there is no court of appeal, one judges by result." He whispered as her lips began assaulting his neck slowly.

She moved to his ear and huskily whispered, "Do you honestly believe the ends justify the means?"

"If my demanding you to stay in my room resulted in you being in my arms then…yes." His lips crushed hers. A soft moan escaped her but was captured by his mouth.

She woke, a bit startled by the sun entering the room. Kaiba was still asleep in the bed beside her. It had to be very early. She quickly got up, showered and dressed. Slowly she slipped out of the room and padded down the steps. She wanted to sit on the dock again with the book she had started last night. Kaiba could keep 'The Prince' she preferred the mystery novel she cradled under her arm. The sun was slowly peaking up over the horizon as she made her way down the grass.

"I wondered how long it would take to get you alone," she heard from behind her.

She spun quickly and came face to face with the murderer. "What do you want!" She asked, knowing full well he wanted her dead. Questions formed, but died on her lips.

"Did you enjoy your shopping trip yesterday?" He started walking towards her. She backed away, but wouldn't turn her back to him

She was trapped. It was too far to run back to the house, she'd never make it. Screaming would do her no good; she was too far from the house. She should have listened to Kaiba and stayed inside. He had told her yesterday that being outside was risky; it was too…vulnerable.

"Kaiba will kick your ass if you touch me!" She screamed at the man who was fast approaching her. His hand snaked out and he managed to grab her arm. She took a swing at him and miraculously connected. The contact was broken and she ran down towards the lake. She knew she was in far better shape then him so outrunning wasn't a problem. He was running behind her, she could hear him, but didn't turn around to see. Her salvation was straight ahead…the boathouse! She could make it in there and lock herself in. It wouldn't be long before Kaiba woke up, noticed she was gone, and came looking for her. She simply had to stay alive until then. She quickly pulled open the door and slammed it shut behind her. There was a lock, which she quickly engaged. She glanced around the room to find the best place to hide. She chose her spot and slowly began to pray.

A few minutes passed and she was tempted to check outside. Maybe the man didn't see her, but that was ridiculous. He had been right behind her…where was he? She figured he would have been slamming on the door by now. She had a hammer in her hand, she was ready, where was he? Wait a minute…is that gas I smell?

Suddenly there was smoke everywhere and she was choking on the thick black stuff. He had set the place on fire to lure her out? That made no sense, the door was flimsy he could have gotten it open. She began to choke and cough, she quickly began crawling on all fours towards the door. Her eyes were burning as her lungs started to ache for fresh clean air. She managed to get to the door. Quickly she undid the lock and pushed against the door…she expected to burst out of the inferno, but instead met with resistance. She tried again…nothing. What the hell was wrong with the door? The room was black with smoke, her breathing was shallow and raspy, and her muscles were beginning to strain. She was trapped. Her head began to swim from lack of oxygen...she would miss him. She hoped Seto would call her brother and at least tell him he could stop worrying. This just wasn't fair…she couldn't leave him…not like his parents…not like Mokuba…no….

The world began to fade to a deep rich black…all thoughts ceased as she collapsed on the floor of the firestorm.

A/N: All right…I think I appealed to romance, action and Kaiba's intellect. I don't recommend reading 'The Prince' unless you enjoy Shakespeare. I do think it would appeal to Seto Kaiba, he, in a lot of ways takes many cues from the book. One of Machiavelli's rules is to kill your competition to ensure your rule…hello! Is that not Kaiba? Anyway, my political science class is over and I get to move on to better things in college next semester. Sorry for the history lesson, but I just kinda thought that exchange would be interesting. If I bored you accept my apology…